Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon Railway

Passengers arriving on the Grand Canyon Railway will have just over three hours to soak up the sights at the Grand Canyon's South Rim before the return trip to Williams.
Roger Naylor/Special for The Republic

Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway train arrives at this historic depot at the South Rim. The two-story log and wood-frame depot was built in 1910.
Roger Naylor/Special for The Republic

Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon Railway's steam locomotive No. 4960 was built in 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Pennsylvania. It runs on waste vegetable oil.
Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon Railway leaves from Williams each morning for a historic journey to the South Rim.
Roger Naylor/Special for The Republic

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Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway steam engine #4960 has been converted to run on 100 percent recycled waste vegetable oil.

Roger Naylor, Special for The Republic
Published 4:00 a.m. MT July 27, 2018

Passengers arriving on the Grand Canyon Railway will have just over three hours to soak up the sights at the Grand Canyon's South Rim before the return trip to Williams.(Photo: Roger Naylor/Special for The Republic)

If I had to pick a single defining Arizona experience, taking a train to the Grand Canyon would be hard to top.

It’s an adventure that preserves the past, includes some cowboys, some wide-open spaces and, oh yeah, lots of breath-stealing, heart-squeezing beauty. Any way you look at it, that’s not a bad afternoon.

The all-day adventure starts with a morning shootout in a corral next to the Williams Depot. A few mouthy outlaws from the Cataract Creek Gang try to draw down against Marshal John Goodmore. Everyone slaps leather and when the gunsmoke clears only the tall lawman remains upright. But these are resilient varmints and in no time they’re posing for photos.

Minutes later the conductor calls out, “All aboard,” and for the next two-plus hours passengers relive one of Arizona’s most distinctive travel experiences from a time gone by.

Saving the train from shutdown

The Grand Canyon Railway train arrives at this historic depot at the South Rim. The two-story log and wood-frame depot was built in 1910.(Photo: Roger Naylor/Special for The Republic)

Trains first chugged into the Grand Canyon's South Rim in 1901. For the next two decades most canyon tourists arrived by rail. During the 1920s, automobiles began to seem less like a newfangled contraption and more like a must-have item. As the American love affair with cars blossomed, train service declined. In 1968, there were only three passengers on the final train to Grand Canyon and the line went dormant, nearly disappearing forever.

Tracks were being torn up for salvage materials when Phoenix businessman Max Biegert and his wife Thelma purchased the railway in 1989 and reopened the route.

Today, vintage diesel engines pull six types of car, ranging from budget-friendly Pullman class to the swanky luxury parlor. Historic steam locomotives using vegetable oil and harvested rainwater for a greener footprint are unleashed on the first Saturday of the month from March through October. These are always a hit with train buffs.

Riding the Grand Canyon train

The train leaves the Williams depot daily at 9:30 a.m. Keep an eye peeled for wildlife. Prairie dog, elk, pronghorn and mule deer are a few of the animals frequently spotted. For the first hour or so, the train crosses rolling prairie and then climbs through mixed timber as it approaches the canyon rim.

En route, attendants serve soft drinks and singing cowboys wander from car to car crooning a mix of folk, blues and campfire tunes. The train pulls into the historic Grand Canyon depot at 11:45 a.m. It departs for Williams again at 3:30 p.m. Passengers who aren’t spending the night have just over three hours to soak up the sights.

Grand Canyon Railway.(Photo: Grand Canyon Railway)

My suggestion is to bring food with you, then take a stroll on the paved Rim Trail heading both east and west from Grand Canyon Village. When you find a quiet shady spot, have a private picnic on the edge of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Of course, Grand Canyon Village has restaurants housed in historic buildings if that strikes your fancy. Or rent bikes for $12 per hour at Bright Angel Bicycles if you prefer pedaling to walking. Grab a gourmet sandwich in their café near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Catch the free shuttle bus to get there.

And once you're back on the train, don’t be surprised if the Cataract Creek Gang tries to rob it before you get back to Williams.

Grand Canyon Railway tickets

Grand Canyon Railway passengers gather at the Williams Depot, preparing to board for a ride to the South Rim.(Photo: Handout, Grand Canyon Railway)

The train departs from the Williams Depot at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 5:45 p.m. daily. During busy times, a second train is added. There are six levels of service on the train:

Pullman class: $67, $32 for ages 2-15.

Coach class: $82 and $51.

First class: $155 and $121.

Observation dome: $184 and $153.

Luxury dome: $219. Children not permitted.

Luxury parlor: $219. Children not permitted.

Polar Express and other options

Popular seasonal rides are offered in fall and winter. The Pumpkin Patch Train in October gives kids and adults a chance to dress up in Halloween costumes and pick pumpkins. The Polar Express brings the beloved children’s book to life in November and December, complete with a visit from Santa Claus.

Passengers also can book packages that include stays at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel hotel in Williams or Maswik Lodge at Grand Canyon.